Circular-knitting machine.



- APPLICATION FILED H. H. WEST. CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE.

MAR. 4, 1914.

Patented Nov. 17, 1914 ,3 SHEETSSHEBT 1 1 IEQ-l wi bneeoed H. H.- WEST. CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE. APPLIQATION FILED MAR. 4,1914.

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Patented Nov. 17, 1914 E. 5. WEST; CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 4, 1914.

. Patented Nova 17,- 191 1.

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h- T i 'H. H. WEST. CIRCULAR KNITTING MA (JHINE,v APPLICATION FILED MAR. 4, 1914.

Patented NOV. 17, 1914,

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H. H. WEST. CIRCULAR KNITTING MAOHI APPLIOATIDN FILED MAR. 4,

Patented Nov. 17, 1914.

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H. H. WEST. CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE.

APPLIOATIDIT FILED HAR- 4, 1914. 1 1 1 7 mama Nov. 17, 391i 8 SHBETBSHEET 8. 133 E U H. WEST CIRCULAR KNITTIH MACH E. APPLICATION FILED MAR 4, 1914.

Patented Nov. 1?, 1914.

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H. H. WEST;

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE. APPLI TIOH FILED MAE. 4, 1914.

1,1 1?,935. Patented Ndv. 17 1914.

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' UNITED srnrns PATENT HARRY H. WEST, OF PLYMOUTH, PENNSYLVANIA.

CIRCULAR-KNITTING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov, it, 191

Application filed March 4, 1914. Serial No. access,

To (ZZZ/201710772; itmm concern a-ppertsiins to make and use the some.

This invention relates to improvements in circular knitting machines of the class especially constructed and adapted for knitting seamless stockings and soclis.

The principal object of the invention is to provide simple and eiiicient mechanism for producing a stocking or sock which perfectly fits the foot and ankle Withouteither stretching or wrinkling. p v

' TheQhosiery in common use at the present day is fundamentally .a narrow bag or tube with a pouch at one point for the heel and which is shaped by stretching and shrinking on form hoards. Even after this process, the angle of the foot with the leg is such that if the human foot were licldas the sock is shaped, the wearer would be walking on his toes or in shoes with heels six inches high. The human foot extends from the leg at about right angles, and when worn, the ordinary stocking" above (le-, scribed, is stretched at the heel and wrinkled at the instep to accommodate the foot in this position. IThe only way to avoid these Wrinkles in a stocking-of this character is by keeping the stocking pulled up abnormolly tight and the strain on' the material at the heel and at the instep rendeis the best yarn ireyable under slight vear.

This invention .comprehends certain improvements which are especially applicable to What is known to the trade as the Banner knitting machine," the general structure of which is shown in U. S. Patent to Hemphill, No. 933,443, dated September 7, 1909, and by these improvements, the disadvantages of the ordinary stocking above. pointed out are overcome and .a stocking'produced which will perfectly fit the human foot Without stretchingorwrinkling, and. one which while accomplishing these objectsis, also especially designed for wear \vithlow, quarter shoes even although different quality varn be employed for knitting the heel and, foot. This Hemphill patent mentioned above has reference to circular knitting n1echines for knitting stockings and socks in which the knitting is performed by a cir-.- cular series or column of needles which a e mov'hd up and down in vertical groo e the needle cylinder under the action 0 the knitting cams on the cam cylinder which encircles the needle cylinder, the knitting of the tubular portion of the WOI'hI forming the leg and foot being performed in (30541 tinuous circular courses by all the needles under a continuous rotary motion of the needle cylinder, the pouch knitting or fashioning for the formation of the heel and toe being performed in arc shaped courses by a part of the needles (one ha'lf being employed in these patented structures) under the reciprocatory motion of the needle cylinder.

1 i I l-om the above, it will be obvious that the needle carrying or knittingcylinder is revolubly but not endwise movable, the needle actuating devices or cams being nonrcvoluble and normally stationary.

The pattern, as Well as the wheels, etc, mounted on the cam shaft, are intermittently rotated vat predetermined intervals and in-one direction only, by means of controlling mechanism operotively connected with devices through the medium of which the cylinder is rotated at it relatively increased rate of speed While plain or circular knitting is bein produced, and revolved at a greatly reduced speed While being actuated in a rotary reciprocatory manner during the formation of the heel and toe portions of the stocking. I The power used is transmitted, as indicated in the through a belt dapted to run in one direc tion on]; and at 1 substantially uniform speed. the arrangement being such that when it is shifted onto one pulley, the speed of the needle cylinder is relatively increased and when in engagement with the other pulicy, the speed is materially reduced, l'hefine chine automatically stopping and locking itself inv stationary position when thebelt is'shifted onto the idler pulley.

Such ts only of the machine as maybe necessa r .Qto show the connection and operationof the attachments. for carrying out this invention will be illustrated herein.v V

In the .accompanying drawings: Figure 1 represents ,a' front elevation of a knitting machine 'constructedin accordance with this drawing,

lOt

invention with parts broken olit'aiid in s e'c Iao 19 EigJSEis a front elevation taken from the l mside'of Fig. 4 looking in the direction of the arrow A, showing these narrowing g cks; lfig'. 7 is a side elevation thereof;

I r 1g. 8 is a vertical section taken substan- 15 tially 'on the line 88 of Fig. 1; Fig. 9 is a fragmentary rear elevation partly in section; Fig. 10 is a detail vertical section of the cam drum constituting a part of this invention; Eig. 11 is a ho rizontal detail-sectional view on an enlarged scale taken through the needle cylinder immediately above the needle controllin cams, the knit- .tin cams being omitted; igs. 12, 13, 14 -,an represent respectively one of the cams (Y) for throwing out certain needles reparatory to the narrowing operation,

ig. 12 bein a front elevation viewed from the inside o the cam with the cam in lowered inoperative position; Fig. 13 is a simiposition; Fig. 14 is a lan view thereof with parts broken out; ig. 15 1s a vertical section on ian enlarged scale taken on the f line 15- 15 .of Fig. 13 looking in thedirection offthef -arrow. Figs. 16, 17, 18 and 19 'regiresent jre'spectively theother cam for throwing'out certain needles preparatory to '-..the narrowing operation, Fig. 16 being a front elevitim-viewed from the inside of 4 0 the cam with the cam in a lowered position;

.117 'iea similar view with the cam-in raised or operativeosition; -F1g. 18 s a top lan view thereo and Fig. 19 IS a vertica jsectionttakenFon the line 19 -1? of 46Fig. 17. Fig. 20is' a fragmentary horizontel section taken. substantially on the. line 2040-- ofi Fig.i2;.Figs. 21, 22, 23 and 24. are-fragmentary 'end views respectively of the machine showing the parts for controlling the needl'cams (,X, Y) in their varr. I one. sitions; Fig. 25 is a view showing the srtiiii 'produced by this improved machine;

Fig. 26 is a diagram of the inside of the cam (cylinder with the needles on the lower working level in the position which is assumed during the circular ,kni tting, the column of needles moving toward theleft as shown by the arrow;

27 is a similar view with the 1 long butt nee needles in raised inoperative position V I BS 'thein to thealready raised needles at each lar view with the cam in raised-or operative I when forming the. tubular leg and foot of I provid d in its peri heral portion with es being raised into the upper'or nonrworkin'g level by the instep raise cam-Fig. 28 isa similar view with'the long Jib a with-the narrowing picks disposed ready to i reciprocation of the needle cylinder, the narrowing for the heel now commencing;

Fig.29 is a similar view with the widening 1 picks in position to take down two needles at each reciprocation and the narrowing picks; positioned to elevate or throw out of action one needle at each reciprocation; Fig. .30 is a similar view showing the parts in position for beginning the formation of the toe with the cams'(Y X) in position for 75 throwing up or into the non-working level snilicient needles at each end of the column of thoseualready elevated toconstitute onehalf of the whole column of needles.

'lhe drawings show the main instrumentalities of a knitting machine-to'which the present invention maybe applied ascomprising a tubular rotary needle cylinder N having a horizontal beveled gear .a secured to its lower end with which a driving gear 'n meshes. The mechanism for driving said gear n-is clearly shownin Figs. 3, Land 28 of the patent above referred to and includes a main drive shaft acarryingwhat will be termed fast, slow and loose pulleys,;p, p and .7). respectively onwhichpa belt 1) is adapted to be shifted automatically to vary the speed of the machine for knitting the different parts of the hose: 'forinsta-nce it is desirable that the machine operate rapidly 5 the stocking and slowly when reciprocating to form the heel and toe and when passing from the leg to the heel andfrom the foot to the toe. .A handle 7) is arranged at the outer end of this'shaft s for-manually operating the shaft whn desired.

I Aclutch member or hub. b is keyed to slide. on the shaft -{t11d.lS "provided with a peripheral groove fol-engagement by an operating or shifting lever b' f ulorumedintermediately of its ends on the frame of-the ma- I chine as shown at bf. This clutch is adaptbelt 72 shifted ontothe fast pulley p the shafts will be rapidly rotated and, through the gears 12 and n will rapidly revolve the.; needle cylinder N during the continuous sro I tary knitting. The needleIcylind er s, uniformly spaced longitudinal grooves to re -Q. ceive acircular series of independent needles n of different forms; distinguished one from the others by 'the"differencefin the length of I I I 1 their lateral extending buttsivherebythey and elevate twoneedlesf and add may beactuated by different .nedlcoritrol:

1.0. n and carries the mainkn tne present embodiment about one-fourth of the total number of the needles have long butts and the remainder have short butts for a purpose to be described. These needles 5; are frictionally held in the grooves of the cylinder by the usual spring bands and are vertically movable. A cam plate H is bored to receive the revjoluble needle cylinder and is located above and contiguous to said gear itting or needle operating cams and the narrowing picks which are brought into action during the knitting of the stocking. A non-revoluble needle supporting cam M practically surrounds the gslower part of the needle cylinder and is se- 45:: speed and cured to said cam plate H and is adapted to support the active needles at the normal lower level while circular knitting is being produced.

The relative arrangement, proportions; etc., of the principal operative parts as drawn are'such that the needle cylinder N is revolved once per revolution of the primary shaft 8. The shaft 8' on which the yarn changing cams, etc., are mounted ma esv one complete revolution during the production of each stocking or piece of knitted work and is intermittently rotated, the means represented for intermitiottently rotating this cam shaft 8 and the.v

M; sprocket wheel d are intermittently revoluble 9 arm 6 of a pivoted rocking bell crank members secured thereon, and also the mach- I anism for controlling said movements may; be described substantially as follows: The fine toothed wheel V and chain-carrying 1, 1n: unison on the shaft .2- by means of the positively reciprocating suitably mounted feed pawl 2" taking its movements from the continuously revolving gear wheel 11 through ipitman 2' and arm 2' A coarse ratchet toothed cam wheel 6 is .fixed to said shaft and-is adapted to be rotated at varying intervals by swinging pawl h movable back and forth in unison with said pawl i. The

;, pattern chain carried by the member'd is composed of a suitable number of connected inks and is provided witha predetermined number of properly disposed lugs lnter gearing with, located at the back of and actuated 'by the continuously revoluble small gear 2', which turns in one direction only. is suitably mounted the large, "gear 21. (see Figs. 1, 3 flllCl qi-l) having the ptitman 2' jointed thereto and to the'shor tf' lever.

' thelong'arm i" of which has a segment-- shape'dfree end with gear teeth out in its periphery which are in continuous workengagement with the, loosely mounted sp'urgear i. to drive it in a rotary reciprocating'manner. i The action of the slow speed pulley 'p' keyed to gear'i operates'by means of. gear 2'. segment 2' gear a etc.,"to rotatethe'shaft a and the cylinder N back 5 aiid'forth' when 'the'clutch hub Ii is moved *belt shipper p the latter .ting

needles upwardly and D each has an arm 7' wardly out of pen t'owardthe left and interlocks withfthegeart 2' and the last named gear revolves the shaft 8, its speedratio being very much reduced thereby or; in other words, the driving belt will revolve pulley 7) several 'revolutions to one of the cylinder and by means of the arrangement of gear described" the speed of the revolving knitting cylinder is increased with respect to the speed of the. driving belt when producing circular work and materially decreased while knitting the heel and toe actuated in a rotary To the front end 0 able cam shaft trolling the reciprocating manner. f the intermittently mova is secured a cam 71 for conmovements of the spring pressed being in yielding contact therewith. A cam drum 7' and cam wheel g fully described in the patent above referred to are also mounted on this shaft 8 and. at the rear or left end of said shaft is mounted a cam drum 9 for a purpose tobe described. Y

A horizontal spring pressed cam carrying block D is movably guided in an endwise direction toward gndfrom the cylinder N and on which are mounted the main knitor needle operating cams and the nar-- rowing picks 100. Mounted on this block and secured to its inner or working face is the upper central guide member and the lower central guard member (1 shown in Figs. 26 to 30 and the spacee between-themforrns a path fol" guiding the needle buttsf The oppositely d sposed or right and left wedge shaped knitting cams m, a: usually termed raise and drawcams are also mounted on this block. The upper sides of said knitting cams when in use deflect the the lower beveled' sides deflect or draw the needles downwardly and thelatter after passingthereunder engage the recessed cam member M-which defleets the needles to the top edge thereof all being arranged whereby the device is adapted to impart to the traveling needles the usual wave like movement at the knitting point while the cylinder may be revolving in either direction. The narrowing picks 100 which are carried by the cam'block which when the block D is retracted engage stationary stops 1 secured to the plate whereby the shanks of the picks are swung upwardly and outtion to allow the needles to be depressed, These picks R are brought into operation at the beginning of the norrowing operation lien the cam shaftsi-has been shifted to throw the clutch Z; into-engagement with the gear 2 and the belt shipper p operated to shift the belt 1; into the slow pulley 7) whereby the reciprdcation of the needle cylinder is produced. Bolted to the table a opposite the narrowing picks isa bracket E which are pivdt portions as when the cylinder is ally mounteilia pair of oppositely disposed Q spring ressed widening picks T which are operated by means of a rod lo controlled by a cam member on the cam shaft 3. Mounted on the cam plate Hare the instep raise and draw cams F and F which are controlled by the clutch shifting levers b" 7 through the link b and a bell crank lever to attached.

b";, connected with said instep cams as is ,clearly shown in Fig. l of the draw ngs here- At the narrowin and. widening 0 eration it is to be un erstood that all 0 the long butt needles, here in shown as one f urth of the column, must be temporarily thrown out of action into the non-working level which is a hi her level'than that'of the other, needles, t e lattercontinuing in service during this ortion of the knitting.

Concurrently with ,t e change of movement of the cylinder from continuous circular to I reciprocatory rotary knitting the instep cam vdevice F is elevated by means of the horizontal connection Z jointed 'to the clutch needles are deflected upwardly by said cam shipper arm 12' whereby all the long butt and -thrown' out of action (see- Figs. 27 and 28) ;fthe diagram shown in Fig. 27 showing this cam F o crating to raise the long'butt'needles. and t e diagram 28 showing them after they have been raised by said cam. At the same time the short butt needles, about three-fourths of the column as .j hereinshown; are standing in the lower orworking plane which form a column arran ed oppositely to the column of elevated f nee les and havin a gap between theends "."ot' the colunmf pon 'actuatlng the cylui-' der in a rotary reciprocatory manner the action of 'the' narrowin picks 100 alternately elevate out of 'actlon'two short butt needles from'each end of this column, the operation being continued until thedesired narrowing point is attained. 'lflhis action.

adds two short butt needles alternately to latter column and corresponding yincreasing the gap theworking column of needles.

In the" widening operation which commenced immediately succeeding the narrowingart each pick T throws down two need es alternately from each'end of the' column of elevated o'r non-working needles to'the normal working plane thereby adding to the length'of the then remaining comparatively short column of working needles and at the same time increasingthe gap between the'ends of the column of the nonworking needles. The narrowing picks are continued in action throughout'the widening process being;.positioned by means to be described to alternately elevate out of action one shortbuttneedle from each end of thestocking at the instep the ends of the row ofthe elevatedlong baa" needles" thereby decreasing the ap in the I fourths of the' column of needles which needles are retained on the normal working level when the machine passes from circular to reciprocatory knitting for the narrowing for the heel; one-fourth of tl ie'column, which constitutes all of the'long butt needles being thrown out of action at the beknitting for.

ginning of this reciprocato V the narrowing ,for the heel. This large low heel extends at its end whereit joins the foot to a point near the instep] as shown at A' in Fig. 25, the heel occupying about three-fourths of the circumference or w idth ortion and thereby lengthens the sole of t e foot for about two inches'more or less between the portions of the stocking which fit the ball of the heel and the toe. This lengthening of the foot at this point ositions 'it iin' a plane substantially at rig t an les to the plane of the leg and provides su cient material in the sole to relieve all strain on the back of the heeland to prevent wrinklin at. the instep; This heel as shownis knit I during the reciprocatory motion of the nee- "dle cylinder on approximately three-fourths the entire column of needles the other onefourth being thrown out of action by the instep cam F at'the time the cylinder changes from contlnuous' rotary to reciprocatory knitting. During the narrowing operation 'for, producing the large low heel two "nee-' dles are alternately thrown or elevated out"- of action at each end of the column of working needles at each reciprocation ,of the neev dle cylinder, the operation being continued until the desired narrowing point is .attained. This throwing out of action of'two needles at a time alternately at each reciprocation ofthe needle cylinder rapidly narrows and thereby forms a narrow gore A between the scam of the heel and the to and for the knitting of which ayarn colored differently from the leg of the stocking may be employed without its being visible above the top of a low quartered shoe when the stocking is worn. This action adds two short buttneedles alternately to the ends of the rowof the elevated long butt needles thereby decreasing the gap in the latter thereof sothat a long low heel is produce i column and correspondingly increasing the gap in the lower or working column of needles. The means for throwmg out of action two needles at each reciprocation of the neodle cylinder comprises the improved narrowing picks 100 shown in detail in Figs. 4 to 7 and the means for controlling them shown partially in said Figs. :l to 7 and fully in Figs. 1 and 3.

Referring now more particularly to the narrowing ieks 100 the outer or free end 101 of the shank of each of said picks is suitably shaped and here shown segmental or arc-shaped. This arcshaped portion or head 101 extends on opposite sides of the shank in planes the upper face ol one end thereof is provided with shouldered seats or steps 102 and 103 which are adapted to be positioned to enge e and elevate two needles at a time as shown in Figs. 5, 27 and 28 or to elerate one needle only as shown in Figs. 4, 26, 29 and 30. These pit-1s 100 are mounted in the usual manner on the block D the front and rear sides of which are oppositely beveled end are provided with fixed pins (not shown) perpendicular thereto which pins extend upwardly at an angle in opposite directions and on which swing respectively these narrowing picks 100. Each of these picks Tit/G hasen arm which is adapted to engage one of the stationary stops 1* secured Hrrhen theblock l) retreat-cl and thereby swing the shanks of the piol rsnpwm'dly and ontwnrdly'ont of position the mists the needles to permit the needles to he dcgire normal lower level at the completion of the work. iiight helical springs r insure the dropping; of the pick arms to their lowermost positions;

A l :1 l'fic extends through an opening in the housing or frame of the inacl'iine at the rear of the block D and to its upper end a bracket i with depending arms at its oppose ends. These-arms have elongated eper tnres or slots 108 extending transversely thereof in which. are slidehly nirmnted pins hich are i'uiorumed and .i The 1 into the th. 1 and form resigned to norms he, the lower etc iii to position to engage and 3 and at right angles thereto and see to the var-ally at right position after the cam 111 passes from under said her.

The raising of the bar which lowe s the stepped ends of the picks 100 is timed to occur just prior to the narrowing tor the heel, whereby the picks 100 under the action of their springs 11 will swin downward and position their steps 102 an 103 to engage two of the short butt needles at the ends of the columns thereof alternately at each reciprocation or" the needle cylinder during the narrowing operation for the heel as shown in Figs27 and 28, andunder the joint action of the advancing column of needles and the upwardly moving and incidentally receding picks, these two needles are elei'ntod out of action. he narrowing is thereby accomplishedrapidly by this elevating of two instead of one needle and the long; nm'row gore is formed, the top of said gore being so disposed as to be below the top of a low quarteredshoe'when the sock is in place on shaman foot and it accomplishes the disposal of the foot of the stoolzing at right angles to the leg thereof.

After the narrowing for the heel has been completed and concurrently with the widening, the earn 111 passes from under the lower end ot' car 105 and said l under the eetioi'i of gravity and the tension of the spring 112 drops dmyn and. swings the levers into engagement 7* of the picks 100, and turns said picks to lispose the lower steps 103 thereof in position to engage a single short butt needle and elevate it alternately at each recipro-- cation of the needle cylinder during the widening operation when two needles are being lowered alternately at each reciprocation of the cylinder by the Widening picks T. After this heel has been knitin the manner above described all of the needles are thrown into action "for the circular knitting to form the footend both the narrowing and widening picks are rerniered mitomni'ieully in perative. When the foot has been rmngwleted and the foe ready to be knit it is obvious that it will he necessary to throw one-lnili oi the needles out of action prior to the narrowing operation in order that the stitches may be properly looped to close the too. To accomplish this raising of the additional needles the prope; time oertsai anton'oitimilly c itrolled name are provided for elevating suiheient of the shortlmtl ill? on opposite sides of the Column of lo l es which Vere pre 2? com prior to the e narrowing thing cams and rating and controlerihed.

with. the arms 1 .usly

As shown applied. in Figs. .1, 2 and 11, diagrammatically-in Figs. 26 130 30 and iii detail in Figs. 1. to 19, two cams Y and X are mounted in suitable housings l and 25 at opposite sides of the block'carrying the stitch cams and in position to engage the short butt needles on opposite sides of the column C of long butt needles at predetermined intervals, said column as heretofore V through a slot 13 in the housing and is loosely engaged with aulat-e'rally extended arm 14 attached to a. rod 15 guided in a suitable sleeve 15 extending throughthe base plate a'-'. This rod 15 is adjustably connected with a. pitman or rod 113 the lower end of which is pivotally connected with one end of a horizontally disposed lever 17. This lever 17 is fulcrumed intermediate'ly of its ends on suitable support 18 and its free 'end has an inturned nose 19 which is positioned in the path of a cam 20 on the drum 9. This drum 9 is loosely mounted on the left end of the shaft 8' and held in frictional engagement therewith by any suitable means, a leather disk 22 being here shown arranged for this purpose between the outer face of the drum and a metal'disk 22' secured to the shaft s.. It is necessary that this drum be so held to adapt it 'to turn with the shafts and also to permit it to turn on the shaft independently thereof by means to be described, its frictional engngemerit being suflicient to hold it against accidental turning on the shaft.

The cam X shown in detail in Figs. 16 to 19 and mounted outside the needle supporting cam Min the housing 25 is shown in the form of a substantially rectangular body slidable vertically in the housing 25 and having an obliquely disposed upper end theflin clined face 27 of which forms ll'ri'd ing surface for the needles which pass thereover and the straight terminal thereof elevates the needles into the non-working level (see Fig. 30) as will be hereinafter more fully described. A stud 30 extends laterallyoutward from the body of the cam X through a slot 31 in the housing 25 and ,is loosely engaged. with a block or arm 32 on the upper end of a rod 33 adjustably connected with a rod or pitman 3%. rod 34 is pivotally connected at its lower stated constituting about one-fourth of the meichine frame. 'shaft 5l'is fixed an arm 53 carrying a roller The end with a lever 35 near the free end of said lever 35 is fulcrumed on a stub shaft extending laterally from the machine fg ame.

The nose 3b of the lever 35 .is positioned in v the path of a cam 38 on the drum 9 fora purpose to be described.

The drum 9 is provided on its periphery with camsQO, 38 and 40 disposed in concentric parallel planes. The cam 40 which extends around the greater portion of the drum 9 being here shown arranged near" its outer end; cam 20 near the inner end of the drum and at a point opposite the middle of the cam l0, and cam 38 which is the shortest of the three and the highest is shown disposed in the intermediate path or plane between cams 20 and 40 and at a point opposite the space between the ends of cam 40. The drum 9 has a toothed rim 41 provided with a series of teeth, threebeing here shown numbered 1, .2 and 3 respectively and disposed varying distances apart, for a purpose to be described;

. A. lever 39 is fulcrumed intermediatelyi of it ends on the stud shaft 37 which also cal ries the lever 35 and is provided at'it's free.

end with a lateral nose 39" positi'oned'in the path of the long cam 40 which extends around the greater portion of the circum' the outer short end of saidlever l6 between' the sleeve 48 and the terminal of said short end'which latter is pivotally connected Withone end of a pitman 49. The other end of this pitman 49 is pivotally connected with a'crank arm 50 which is fixed on a stub shaft 51 which extends through a suitable hearing 52 arranged transversely of the m On the free end of this 54 which is positioned adjacent the inner face of the large gear 71 and is adapted. to

be engaged at predetermined periods by cams'42 and 43'secured to the inner face of said gear z" (see Figs. 8, 9 and 21) for a purpose to be described. A dog'44 is pivoted on the free end of the lever 46 and held in spring pressed engagement with the toothed rim 41 being designed to engage the teeth thereof at predeterminedintervals 'as w'ill be hereinafter described. The levers around with said shaft by the pins 56 and ing the free end of arm 53 .to

17, 35 and 39 are held with their noses vin yieldable operative engaging position by means of suitable springs-topositioned at alzliy desired or suita 1e point for so holding t em.

During the knitting of the leg, heel and foot of the stocking the drum 9 is turned slowly by each movement of the camshaft a on. which it is frictionally held in the manner above described,- being carried '57 one of which is mounted on the drum and the other onan adjacent element on the cam shafts. The nose 39 of the lever 39 which controls the position of the roller 54 and consequently the turning of drum 9 on shaft 0 travels on the long cam 40 of said drum 9yand is held thereby in raised position as shown in Fig. 2 during the knitting operations for the leg, heel and foot of a stocking. The rear end of this lever 39 and of the lever 46 to which it is connected are depressed when the nose 39 is engaged withv cam 40 whereby the upper end of the pitman rod 49 is drawn down thus lowering the end of the'arm 50 and elevatos1 tion the roller 54 out of the path 0 the cams 42 and 43 carried by the large con tinuonsly rotating gear wheel 2'. The noses 19 and 36 of the levers 17 and 35 respectively also travel on the cam drum 9 without being engaged by their actuating cums during these knitting operations and hence the cams Y and X controlled thereby remain inactive during this period. It will thus be obvious that this drum 9 performs no function during the knitting operations above mentioned.

When the cam shaft 8 is turned to shift the parts into position for reciprocatory knitting prior to the narrowing for the toe, the instep cam F is concurrently raised by the movement of. the clutch shipper lever I) to the left and thereby elevates or throws out of action all of the long butt needles which in. this instance are aboutonefourth of the entire working column. On the extreme forward movement of the cylinder after the instep cam has elevated the long butt needles 0 into the non-Working level as shown in Fig. 23. and before the cylinder begins its reciprocatory movement it stands still for a short oeriod. These rests are due to the lost motion occurring when the the wrist pin connection of the .pitman a"? passes from one side to the other of the dead center of the gear 2' which is a dis tunce of about an inch and a quarter, more or less; also to the taking up of the back lash which occurs between the teeth offthe segment gear and the pinion 7' andbetween the teeth of the bevel genre 7L and 921' which latter takes place immediately following that of segment and gear 2''. The

cylinder stands still for the reasons above set forth just before the reciprocatory knitting begins and also at the end of each reciprocatory stroke. This interval, when the cylinder stands still at the beginning of the reciprocatory-lmitting is utilized to elevate into operative position the needle raising cams Y and X in a manner to he described.

When the parts are positioned for reciprocatory knitting the drum 9 is turned sufficientlyto cause the nose 39 of the rollercontrulling lever 39 to drop of? the straight end ll of the long cam 40 into the position shown in Fig. 21 and the dropping of this lever end through the action of link 45 and pitman 49 positions the roller 54 in the path of the cams 42 and l3. The continued tnrn- 19 of lever 17 and raise said letr, carrying uith it the rod 16 connected with the needle raising mun Y which latter is elevated into the. position to raise the desired number of short butt needles out of action as shown in Fig. Simultaneously with this action the cam 38 is passed under the nose 36 of the lever 35 thereby raising said lever and elevating the rod 34 and cam X carried thereby into the position shown in Fig. 30 so that any needles on top of this cam or any needles passing thereover will be raised into the nonworking level. By the elevation of these camel and X the required number of short butt needles at each end of the nonworking column (l are elevated to throw out one-half of the entire colu'mn of needles prior to the narrowing operation for the toe. it i obvious that an equal nlmiber of needles must be disposed in the working and nonworking columns respectively dsir ng this operation in order that the 5 opers may properly operate for closing 3 after the widening" operation has been completed. As shown in Fig. 11 the-remote ends of those cams Y and X are disposed at diametrically opposite points to insure the raising thereby REVS. limit. raising the s ci'ibed. After these cams Y and have forwardv stroke.

been raised the cylinder begins its return or backward stroke (see Fi 30) which constitutes the first stroke 0 the reciprocatory movement and when the last needle to the left of cam X between said cam and the long butt needles has passed the point X of said rain, the cam X is lowered, the small cani'43 on the gear wheel a" having in the meantime passed under the roller 54 and lowered the rod 49 causing the dog 44 to engage the tooth 2 of the drum 9 and turn said drum on the shaft 8 a distance s'uflieient to cause the cam 38zto pass from under toe 36 of lever 35, (see thereby lowering the cam X into inoperative pOsition as shown in Figs. 2627, leaving the needles raised thereby in the. non-working level, and the cylinder continues it's backwiirdf stroke and again starts on its second The nose 19 of lever 17 passes oil the projection 26 immediately after said cam Y has been raised and drops onto the lower plane of'said cam and thus, through rod 16 lowers cam Y into the posi tion shown in Fig. 30 to adapt it to clear the lower endsof the needles elevated thereby duringthe return movement of the cylinderconstituting the first reciprocatory stroke should any of said needles accidentally drop below the non-working level.

-. The cam Y being positioned and held as shown inFig. 39 rovides sufiicient space be tween its lower er go and the upper edge of cam M to permit the passage of the butts of the operative short butt needles during the return stroke ofthe cylinder. This holding of cam Y in raised position during the first stroke of the reciprocatory movement is necessitated in view of the fact that the needle cylinder begins its first reciprocatory stroke so soon after cam Y is raised that there is not suliicient time to lower said cam before under nose 1911f its controlling lever, said cam 20 being made sufliciently long to retain cam Y elevated until the cylinder starts on itssecond reciprocatory stroke. ()n the second forward stroke of the cylinder the cam Y is lowered into the position shown in Figs,

26 to 29. This dropping of cam Y is caused by the large gear i in the meantime havingmadea complete revolution and brought the large-cam 42 a ain into the path of the roller.

54 the nose 39 of lever being still on face of drum 9. The roller is thereby lifted and causes dog 44 to engage tooth of the drum 9 (as shown in Fig. 23) and turn. said drum on shaft 8 a suificie t distance to more cam 20 from under the nose 19 ot lever 17 thereby lowering the other end of sand lever 17 and drawing the rod 16 downwhereby cam v Y connected with said rod is lowered into its the narrowing for the toe, which is then 4 knit in the usual manner by first narrowing and then widening and finally closing the toe along the edges of the gores when the stocking is complete. v

In the operation of this machine when the parts are in position 'for circular knitting to produce the legof a stocking the machine is set into action by. the belt shipper p thereby automatically shifting the driving belt from the idler pulley onto the loosely revoluble quick speed driving pulley p. The belt while thuspassing onto the driving pulley p will necessarily cross the intermediate or slow speed pulley p thus starting the machine into knitting action more slowly and with less strain upon it than if the pulley 32 were located immediately contiguous to an idle pulley. The first result of the revolving knitting cylinder. carries the depressed shortbntt needles in a straight line pastthe face of the rear knitting cam :11,

the outer ends of the immediately following long butt needles at the same time engaging the cam e and being deflected into the path 6 thereby positioning them to engage the downwardly deflecting surface of said rear cam, and passing thereunder while making the first stitch at the same instant that the last of the short butts pass the face of the cam. Simultaneously with this operation the spring of the cam block D automatically advances it and its narrowing picks to the normal working level close to the surface of the revolving needle cylinder, the relation of the several members being substantially as represented in diagram in Fig. 26. In this figure the lower dotted line shown above the edge of the cam M indicates the normal workin path of the butts and corresponding wit the production of circular or. plain knitting. The cooperation of the revolving knitting cylinder and the members of the now positioned cam block D together with the usualcanis cause the moving needles to successively receive therein the yarn from properly positioned guides thereby converting it into new loops and at the same time ,casting off the old loops or stitches from the tops of theneedles into the web revolving with the cylinder. This action of the machine then produces plain or circular knit ting each revolution of the cylinder corresponding with one row or course of stitches.

- 55 movingneedles duringeachxdoublereciprm -The machine continues at the normal fast work, as in producin the leg portion of the speed and without change to knit circular heel'of the stocking. That is to say the engagement of the'member iv. .with the proper lug on the pattern chain 13 allows the lug by means of pawl h to move the ratchet wheel e a predetermined distance thereby correspondingly rotating the cam wheel f. and its shaft 8 and at the same time causing the lower end I) of the clutch lever b to be deflected laterally through an opening f" of the cam rib f to the outer or right side, thus sliding the clutch member 6 to the left into engagement with gear 5" thereby also shift-- ing the continuously runningbeltfrom pulley 19 onto pulley p. This materially re duces' the speed and at the same time changes the movement of the cylinder from continuous circular to reciprocatory rotary. Concurrently with said change the instep cam F is .elevated by means ofthe horizontal connection If jointed to the clutch shipper arm 5' whereby all-the longbutt needles are deflected upwardly 1b said cam out of action into the non-working level. which is in dicatedby the double row of dotted 'linesat.

ithe leftof Fig. 27. ThisiFig.27 shows the instep cam F mthe act ofelevating the long butt needles, which inxthis machine consth I tutes about one-fourth iof thelenti'recolumn of needles. All :these long ,bu'tt needles which as before statedoon'stituteabout oneplaiie as shown in :Fig. 28 ,and are out 0 action while; the machine in .jltS reciprocate ing movements sforms the narrowing for. the

7 and the self droppingan larly swinging cnarrowin picks r100 .whi' eby two short butt need es. are -thrown ,up alternately out described. 111118; narrowing ofection from each end-of thecqlu nnof cation ofthehcylinderin the mannerabove p o .is o

tinned untiLtheLdesired point has reache w c is sw t ol de yi un ep- 1 orlriposit oned gonthe pattern chain which mcta'mthathe-wmbbr htorm ate herhnits? adrqoshithemedium at a my rmiticu do -o th do 4 W25 members-7c, r and time hit on are k and the two self rising widening picks T controlled by said plate member so that the recessed portion? of-said picks are positioned in the path of'the inactive short butt needles which have just been elevated by the narrowing picks 100, thecylinder still moving in 'a rotary reciprocatory manner. The function of these widening picks T is to alternately deflect or throw down into action a pairof short butt inactive needles from each end of the gap in the column of elevated or idle needles durin each double reciprocation of the needle cylinder. While this is takingplace the narrowing picks 100 are kept working being positioned-to elevate one needle alternately at each'reciprocation of the cylinder thus producing the weil known two and one knitting action. This knitting action is continued until the advancing pattern chain carries the proper lug into engagement with the member I) for releasing and rotating the cam shaft and its members a predetermined distance to prop- .erly position the cam f to engage the lower end of the clutch lever b to shift the clutch to the right to engage the gear 2' and change from reciprocatory to circular knitting and atthe same time to shift the driving belt ontothe pulley p to resume the legor quick speed circular knitting to produce" the foot portion of the stocking. The continued quick speed rotationof the cylinder operates to knit nearly all of the circular or plain portion of the foot and continues until just before the narrowing for the tee is to be produced. Then the-operation above described relativeto the actuation of cams X and Y preparatory to the narrowing for "thetoe is ,performedg thetoe narrowing and widening ,are effected in the usual manner, thepicks .100 being held by bar 105 in the ew circular courses are knit which are utilized inseamingnn a well known manner and the stocking is complete.

From the above description it will be obvious that the operation ofthe machine as set v forth produces a stocking having the footdisposed substantially at right stretching, at. the heel. and wrinkling at vthe in t p 3 d to avoid. the; necessityeof pul t-tmfit-Pmiwe v w th in l n t a o p es. a in hi h he ee n w may he knit 0 white or other yarn diflerentIy-eob position shown inFigs. '3, 4 6 and] to en.- gage one needle only during the narrowing *ior the toe. After the toe is completed a fourth of thetotalnumber 1n Hthecyhnder f are now -elevated ,into the nonsworki p hes ck ng igh t h fr them 3 -whichhasbeen heretofore necssaryjto cause over e: n nk ored from that used in knitting the leg and yet adapt this stocking so formed to be Worn with low; quartered shoes without the enlarged heel being visible'above the top of the shoe.-

v I claim as my invention:

1. In a circular knittin machine, the

combination with a revolu le needle cylinder havingfneedles slidable therein, of

pivotally mounted narrowing picks posi-" tioned adjacent said needles, and having a step-like needle engaging face fopsimula plurality of'a'needles,

taneously engaging and means control ed by the knitting mech amsm to position the steps of said needle en 1 gaging face to simultaneously engage and elevate a plurality of needlesjust prior to the narrowing'operation for the heel, and means for positioning said picks prior to the knitting of the toe to cause one step only" I to engage and elevate a single needle.

' 2. In a circular knitting machine, the

combination with arevoluble needle cylin der having needles slidable;therein', means,

for bodily elevating a columncf sa'id needles into the-non-working level, means for" elevating a pluralityof the working-needles altcrnatelya't each end (if said non-working column, and means-foractuating-said last mentioned means to position it to"*'engage and elevate a single needle only. 3. In combination with a needle cylinder" having needles slidable therein, of-a' needle elevating cam positioned to raise approximately one-fourth of the needles at a p'redetermined point into inoperative position, means controlled by the shifting of thckrritting mechanism for actuating said" cam,-

picks for engaging a plurality of the operative needles and raising them intoinopeiim tive position at each end of the column of I .needle cylinder during the narrowing for -narro wing picks pivotally moimted on said block and having step-like needle engaging 5b faces, means for, normally f-holding said,

the heel and to, elevate one needle only duriing-theheel widening operation. .i i

, 4 In combination with a needle cylinder having needles slidable therein, a block mov-l able toward and away from said cylinder,

picks to brine the lowest step thereof into operative position, and means for releasing;

said holding means at predetermined inactn'ate said levers and-to release said picks.

ciit said cylinder and having step-likeneedie engaging f faces, levers for norm-all y holding said picksjin position to dispose one of the steps thereof in operative position, andmeans for releasing said holdingmeans prior toth'e narrowingfor the heel, v,

e 6. In combination with .a' needl'e'cylinder having needles slidable therein, pivotally mounted narrowingpicks arranged adjacent said cylinder andjhaving step-like nee- I die engaging 'facs, levers" for normally holding said picks in position to. dispose one "of the steps thereof inoperative position, a f vertically movable member connected wlth said-levers and'operable to throw them into or out of operative onder-1;,

7. In combinationwithane'edle cylinder having needles slidable therein,"pi'votally mounted narrowing 'picks 'ar'ran'ged adjaent said cylinder and having step-like needle engaging faces, levers-ton'normally 'holding said'picks in'positio'nto dispose one of the steps thereof in operative position, a vertically movable memberslidably engaged with said levers, means-controlled by the kni't'ting mechanism'i'or raising and loweringsaid' member at predetermined inter- :va-l's to 'actliatefsaidlevers.

v 8. Ii -combination. with 'a needle cylinder having "needlesfslidable therein, 'pivotally g mounted narrowing picks"arranged adio '95 cent: said cylinder and havingstep-like nee-1,v die engaging 'faces, levers for normally holding said picks'in position to dispose one of the' steps thereof-"in operative position, i" a vertically Imovable member -slidably e'ngaged with said levers, a'cam for raising said mem'ber at predetermined" intervals to :to permit the "to engage and elevate 'aplu-l theineedlecylinder. I

9. In combination'with -a. needle cylinder i having needles .slidable therein,-pivotally mounted narrowing 'picksiarranged 'adiacent -ralitv ofthejneedles at each reciprocation 0:5 .105

said cylinder and having.step-l'ikemeedle e'ngaging faces, levers for normally holding said picks in position to disnoselone of the stepsthereof-inoperativeposition, a'm bl bracket 1 having. dependingvapertnred arms,

laterally extendingarms, on saidlevers slid- 11! .able in the apertures ofsaid bracketar'ms and means for moving .Sflld;,.bla(3l(0li;t0 engage and disengage said levers relative to said picks, i

10..In ,combination with a vneedle cylinder having needles slidahle therein. pivotally mounted narrowingjpick s arranged adjacent teiviils, and means for swinging said picks said cylinder and having'step-like needle en:

Indispose all of the steps thereof in opera? tive position. i

' ev ne wa er P e an e ie.

I f said picksintoposition tor lispose their v 5'.-I n combination with a needle cylinder ,1; v havingneedlesslidable therein; 'pivotally" gaging. faces; yieldable mcans or,v forcin 

